Sens News & Analysis from Leafland

Archive for the tag “Clark MacArthur”

Rangers goaltender Cam Talbot sees the puck in the net after Marc Methot’s first period goal at Canadian Tire Centre on January 18, 2014 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Francois Laplante/Freestyle Photography/OSHC)

THIS WEEK’S PREDICTIONS

Sens 4 Capitals 3 (22-19-8) Jan. 21

Sens 1 Lightning 4 (29-16-5) Jan. 23

Sens 2 Hurricanes 3 (20-19-9) Jan. 24

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

Sens 2 Wild 3 (27-19-5) Jan. 14 | RESULT: Sens 3 Wild 0

Sens 4 Canadiens 2 (27-17-5) Jan. 16 | RESULT: Sens 4 Canadiens 5

Sens 3 Rangers 4 (27-21-3) Jan. 18 RESULT: Sens 1 Rangers 4

Prediction record: 25-23 (Week Record: 1-2)

SENS FROM TO – The Maple Leafs’ five-game and Blue Jackets’ six-game winning streaks show the importance of consecutive wins as regular season games become scarce. Another week, another trio of games with direct playoff competition. Mark Stone was injured in practice Monday and will not play in Washington. Stephane Da Costa has been recalled to replace him. Paul MacLean will go with Craig Anderson. The Capitals haven’t beaten Ottawa since Dec. 7, 2011.

Mika Zibanejad #93 of the Ottawa Senators celebrates his shootout game-winner against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on January 11, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)

THIS WEEK’S PREDICTIONS

Sens 2 Wild 3 (25-18-5) Jan. 14

Sens 4 Canadiens 2 (26-15-5) Jan. 16

Sens 3 Rangers 4 (24-20-3) Jan. 18

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

Sens 2 Avalanche 5 (28-12-5) Jan. 8 | RESULT: Sens 3 Avalanche 4

Sens 4 Predators 3 (19-21-7) Jan. 11 | RESULT: Sens 2 Predators 1

Prediction record: 24-21 (Week Record: 2-0)

SENS FROM TO – Bryan Murray has received a two-year extension and has officially been named president of hockey operations. He’s also been given the green light from ownership to make some moves. On the ice, the Senators are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games going into three more important games this week. Robin Lehner, 1-3-1 in his last five starts, will get the nod against the Wild Tuesday.

Colin Greening #14, Erik Condra #22 and Zack Smith #15, celebrate the winning goal by Clarke MacArthur #16 of the Ottawa Senators against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game on January 4, 2014 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)

THIS WEEK’S PREDICTIONS

Sens 2 Avalanche 5 (26-12-4) Jan. 8

Sens 4 Predators 3 (20-12-9) Jan. 11

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

Sens 2 Capitals 4 (20-16-6) | Dec. 30 | Result: Sens 3 Capitals 1

Sens 4 Jets 3 (19-21-5) Jan. 2 | Result: Sens 4 Jets 3

Sens 2 Canadiens 4 (25-14-5) | Jan. 4 | Result: Sens 4 Canadiens 3

Prediction record: 22-21 (Week Record: 1-2)

SENS FROM TO – Ottawa has won 4 games in a row and looks to continue their streak against some of the league’s top teams in the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators. Captain Jason Spezza has been cleared to play Wednesday against the Avalanche. As for Chris Neil, his hamstring injury may see his return pushed out to next Tuesday when the team travels to Minnesota to take on the Wild. Craig Anderson is 5-0 in his last five games with a .938 save percentage and is expected to start Wednesday in Colorado.

On the Olympic front, Erik Karlsson and Milan Michalek have been named to team Sweden and team Czech Republic, respectively.

DECEMBER 10: Zemgus Girgensons #28 of the Buffalo Sabres scores a second period goal against Robin Lehner #40 of the Ottawa Senators as Joe Corvo #77 of Ottawa follows the play at First Niagara Center on December 10, 2013 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Jen Fuller/Getty Images)

The Ottawa Senators’ playoff chances are in jeopardy — 31 games into the season. For those who respond saying ‘how is that possible? There’s 51 games still to be played’, things are very different this year.

Chris Neil #25 of the Ottawa Senators gestures to fans after a fight in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Canadian Tire Centre on December 7, 2013 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

SENS FROM TO – Every week going forward for the Ottawa Senators is paramount. In order to prove they belong in the post-season, they must put together wins effective this week. Every subsequent week where they continue to come out with even or losing record, however, ‘paramount’ will quickly turn into ‘out’; perhaps even by the Olympic break.

Desperation hockey starts now.

The Senators need to be a .600 team minimum to have even a decent chance at a playoff spot. The new division playoff system ensures the best teams from each conference are selected so it has indeed become more difficult to make the playoffs.

The predictions above do not reflect what they need to do, but are just one person’s opinion of how they think it’ll turn out based on the past few weeks.

But they’ve been playing better of late, outshooting opponents in their last six games and have been winning the majority of faceoffs. Their puck possession numbers are better, but their execution with the puck must improve. The Senators have an excellent opportunity to make some ground in the Atlantic division with two games against the lowly Buffalo Sabres.They do, however, have 4 games in 6 days.

The Leafs did them a huge favour by losing to the Bruins Sunday. Gut check time in the nations capital.

NOVEMBER 17: Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators stretches during warmup prior to a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Canadian Tire Centre on November 17, 2013 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

THIS WEEK’S PREDICTIONS

Sens 4 Panthers 2 (7-15-5) | Dec. 3

Sens 2 Lightning 5 (16-9-1) | Dec. 5

Sens 4 Maple Leafs 3 (14-10-3) | Dec. 7

LAST WEEK:

Sens 2 Capitals 4 (14-11-2) | Nov. 27 | Result: Sens 6 Capitals 4

Sens 2 Canucks 3 (14-10-5) | Nov. 28 | Result: Sens 2 Canucks 5

Sens 3 Red Wings 2 (14-7-7) | Dec. 1 | Result: Sens 2 Red Wings 4

Prediction record: 14-12 (Week: 1-2)

SENS FROM TO – The Ottawa Senators brought in December with a loss against Daniel Alfredsson and the Detroit Red Wings. Following the game, the Senators sent down defenceman Mark Borowiecki and forward Derek Grant to Binghamton, and recalled forward Mike Hoffman. Hoffman returns to the nation’s capital with 11 goals and 15 assists in 21 AHL games this season, and is currently second in AHL scoring. Paul McLean has said that he has no found his best team in the combinations he has already tried, but says he’s confident that his team will enjoy the end result of its season. The Senators go into tonight’s game against the Panthers with a 6-1-1 record against teams in their division (Panthers are in Ottawa’s division). Craig Anderson, who is set to start, has a career 9-1-1 record against Florida.

NOVEMBER 23: Clarke MacArthur #16 of the Ottawa Senators gets congratulated by teammates on the bench after scoring his 2nd goal during an NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on November 23, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Ottawa defeated Detroit 4-2 (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)

Sens From TO: TORONTO – The Ottawa Senators continued their win-one-lose-win ways with losses to the Flyers, Wild and Hurricanes, but a win against the Atlantic division rival Detroit Red Wings in the middle. Not many positives came out of last week as the Senators were, once again, victims of themselves. Coach Paul McLean said his team wasn’t playing with enough respect against teams at the bottom of the league and that they weren’t putting enough effort in. Clarke MacAthur, one of the only positives that came out of another losing week, scored 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in four games. In addition, Craig Anderson has disappeared from team USA’s Olympic radar despite having Vezina numbers last season. Erik Karlsson continues to be a point-per-game player with 7 goals and 17 assists in 24 games despite being a -3 in these past four contests.

Craig Anderson will get the nod tonight against the Washington Capitals.